Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Pirelli Cinturato C3: The dawn of a brand-new duel is here! The all-new 2025 Pirelli Cinturato C3 steps into the ring, taking on the multiple test-winning Continental PremiumContact 7 in a battle for touring tire supremacy. With the C3 bringing fresh innovations to challenge the reigning champion, can Pirelli’s latest contender dethrone Continental’s dominant force? Let’s dive into this high-stakes showdown!
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Results: Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Pirelli Cinturato C3
The results featured here are from Tyre Review’s Best Touring Tyres Test, with 7 model of the finest touring tires were tested. The accompanying graph presents a side-by-side comparison of the Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Pirelli Cinturato C3 across various performance categories, with the Continental PremiumContact 7 serving as the benchmark at the 100% mark.
The tire size of interest is the 225/50R17 tire size, a popular choice for vehicles like the BMW 3 series Audi A3. For further insights into various tire sizes, feel free to consult our latest tire size table. The tests were conducted using a standard BMW 3 series.
Wet
The Continental PremiumContact 7 stops 0.35 meters shorter than the Pirelli Cinturato C3 in wet braking, a 1% advantage in stopping power. However, the C3 fights back in wet handling, completing the lap 0.51 seconds faster than the PremiumContact 7. Subjectively, the Cinturato C3 edges out with a 0.25-point higher rating, indicating slightly better driver confidence. But when it comes to straight-line aquaplaning resistance, the PremiumContact 7 holds firm, maintaining grip at 98.1 km/h, 2.4 km/h faster than the C3, translating to a 2.5% advantage in water evacuation.
Cinturato C3 :
- -1% in wet braking
- ~0% in wet handling (lap time)
- +1% in subjective wet handling
- -2% in straight aquaplaning
Dry
The Pirelli Cinturato C3 outperforms the Continental PremiumContact 7 in dry braking, stopping 0.52 meters shorter, a 2% advantage in braking efficiency. On the dry handling course, the C3 is 0.12 seconds faster. Subjectively, the Pirelli impresses even more, earning a perfect 10/10, 0.5 points higher than the PremiumContact 7, indicating a more engaging and responsive driving feel.
Cinturato C3 :
- +2% in dry braking
- ~0% in dry handling (lap time)
- +2.5% in subjective dry handling
Noise
The Continental PremiumContact 7 offers a more comfortable ride, scoring 0.5 points higher in subjective comfort than the Pirelli Cinturato C3. However, the C3 counters with a quieter performance, measuring 1.3 dB lower in exterior noise levels, a 1.8% reduction, making it the better choice for a more silent driving experience.
Cinturato C3 :
- -2.5% in subjective comfort
- +2% in exterior noise (-1.3 dB)
Rolling Resistance
There is no meaningful difference in rolling resistance between the Continental PremiumContact 7 and the Pirelli Cinturato C3, with just a 0.02 N/kN variation that is negligible in real-world driving conditions.
Cinturato C3 :
- ~0% in rolling resistance
Price
The Pirelli Cinturato C3 is €1 more expensive than the Continental PremiumContact 7 in the 225/50 R17 size, making it 1% pricier with no significant cost difference.
Tire size: 225/50 R17
- PremiumContact 7 : € 141
- Cinturato C3 : € 142
Difference: +1% more expensive for Cinturato C3
Summary
The Continental PremiumContact 7 holds a slight edge in wet braking, along with better aquaplaning resistance and comfort, making it a solid choice for safety and ride quality. Meanwhile, the Pirelli Cinturato C3 counters with better dry braking, faster handling, lower noise, and a slight edge in subjective feel, proving to be a worthy challenger. After dominating multiple tests, the PremiumContact 7 has finally found its match in the all-new Cinturato C3!
Dr Edwin Pang